Tag: Nazra

Nazra – Palestine Short Film Festival is pleased to announce the winners of the first edition of the Festival.

Winner in the category “Best fiction short film by a Palestinian author”Ave Maria, for its outstanding ability to transfigure themes like occupation, suspicion and conflict into a brilliant story tinged with humor. At the same time, all the paradoxical and absurd conditions imposed on the inhabitants of the occupied territories filter through such a crazy story.

Winner in the category “Best fiction short film by an international author”One minute, for the admirable description of a mother’s despair during the 2014 Gaza bombing, thanks to the powerful choice of a claustrophobic darkness accompanied with the sound of voices, messages and bombs – possibly the only way to tell the human side of things that are too horrible to show.

Winner in the category “Best documentary short film by a Palestinian author”Mate superb, for the lively representation of Palestinian boys engaging in nonviolent resistance while performing their parkour exercises in Jerusalem. The feelings of protagonists are masterfully narrated using simple but effective shots coupled with an enthralling editing.

Winner in the category “Best documentary short film by an international author”High hopes, for its remarkable ability to expose the relationship between propaganda and reality, as revealed by the shameful evacuation of a Bedouin clan during the Oslo negotiations. The pressing rhythm of the editing highlights in a merciless way the blatant contradiction between peace announcements and the criminal behaviors of the Israeli army.Winner in the category “Better experimental short movie”Entr’acte, for telling in an overwhelming way the killing of a child by a sniper, mixing with astonishing effectiveness animation and film quotes. The film connects the narrative dramatic force with very strong emotional involvement and pietas, alternating in a heartbreaking way the prevailing black-and-white with color flashes.

Nazra- Palestine Short Film Festival will be presented in the frame of the 74th Venice International Film Festivalin the presence of President Luisa Morgantini, artistic director Stefano Casi, curator Franca Bastianello, with the participation of representatives of Italian and Palestinian associations involved in the project, and with the participation of Ambassador of Palestine Mai Alkaila.

“The Venice International Film Festival is officially recognised by the FIAPF (International Federation of Film Producers Association).
The aim of the Festival is to raise awareness and promote international cinema in all its forms as art, entertainment and as an industry, in a spirit of freedom and dialogue. The Festival also organises retrospectives and tributes to major figures as a contribution towards a better understanding of the history of cinema.”